News of: Monday, 7th of September, 2009

Front Page

The Criminal Investigation Department's charge sheet in the August 21 grenade attack case draws no conclusion about the much-reported bullet scars on the jeep that drove Sheikh Hasina out of the blast site.

The anti-viral drug 'Oseltamivir' used for treatment of swine flu will be sold now at a reduced price under the government 'regulated market' across the country to stop misuse of the drug and control its price.

The energy ministry yesterday finalised some terms and conditions for upcoming tender on eight rental power projects with a total capacity of 530 megawatt, relaxing the deadline for implementing the projects.

A parliamentary committee yesterday sent 90 applications of armed forces officials to the defence ministry for verifying who were "deprived or harassed or sacked on political grounds" in the last seven years.

In a report carried by The Daily Star yesterday, it was mentioned that former finance minister M Saifur Rahman participated in the 1952 Language Movement as vice-president of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall of Dhaka University.

Several thousand people from two unions of Jaldhaka upazila of the district blocked Nilphamari-Jaldhaka road at Tengonmari for three hours yesterday demanding distribution of rice among them from government's vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme.

Leaders of Mohanagar Puja Udjapan Committee yesterday sought law enforcers' constant vigilance at a few mandaps (worship pavilions) in the capital during the upcoming Durga Puja that begins on September 24.

Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal confirmed yesterday that Germany is mediating an Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap that would include Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit but stressed the bid is in its early stages.

US President Barack Obama's special adviser for green jobs has resigned under pressure from leading Republican politicians and revelations about his controversial past statements, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Editorial

THE death of M. Saifur Rahman in a road crash brings to an end a life that was spent largely in public service from the late 1970s onward. In the years after he joined the government of General Ziaur Rahman as commerce and then finance minister, Rahman played a pivotal role in the way Bangladesh's economy was to shape itself. He remains --- and this is to his credit --- the man who has presented the highest number of national budgets, to the country. That is testimony, in a broad sense, of his indispensability to the party and government he was part of almost to the end of his days. Saifur Rahman found himself on the national political canvas under Zia and then went on to expand his role in the two governments headed by Khaleda Zia. The economy, in a sense, came to be what he conceived it to be.

WISDOM has a great advantage over philosophy. It is simple. Philosophy is so often tortured by the human mind that its meditations become a maze. We become so enraptured by the complexities of the maze, so fascinated by its labyrinths that we forget that we once had a destination. Wisdom is a straight line; it is the shortest distance between question and answer.

Sports

Archrivals Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani will not meet each other on the battlefield until both of them reach the final of the Citycell Federation Cup as they were rated the two top seeded sides in the groupings of the season's curtain-raising tournament, beginning on September 10.

Brazil ruthlessly sealed their qualification for the World Cup in South Africa tonight, but Argentina's fate is looking ever more uncertain after this crushing defeat. Diego Maradona came into this match promising to attack Brazil, yet he could not have anticipated his side's defence rendering his team's threat so irrelevant. Argentina were woeful at the back and Brazil barely had to work for their goals.

World number one Dinara Safina and three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova crashed out of the US Open at the hands of teen titans on Saturday, aiding fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova's title bid.

Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman won his fifth round game to share the second position with compatriot Enamul Hossain Rajib at the end of the five rounds of the 4th Kolkata Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament at Gorkey Sadan on Saturday.

Former champions France face the distinct possibility of missing out on next year's World Cup finals and must improve quickly, French media agreed on Sunday in questioning the team's capabilities following their 1-1 draw with Romania.

While his opposite number Diego Maradona fought to find any positives in a damaging defeat, Brazil coach Dunga was able to revel in his side's passage to the World Cup finals after Saturday night's win in Rosario.The three points from a fine 3-1 win clinched the Brazilian's qualification and ensured they keep up their record of never missing out, leaving Dunga well-satisfied.

France's desperate fight to finish top of their 2010 World Cup qualifying group suffered a further blow on Sunday as it was revealed that playmaker Franck Ribery and defender Julien Escude were slightly injured.

Major oil exporters will hold the flow steady at Wednesday's Opec meeting but will crack down on those breaching agreed cuts, as energy demand remains weak despite signs of economic recovery, analysts say.

Dhaka University scientists have developed a solar pump by using locally available technologies to help bring more land under irrigation and reduce dependency on diesel- and electricity- driven water pumps in crop fields.

With the IT industry late Saifur Rahman had a love-hate relationship going back to the early nineties. His sudden and tragic demise last Saturday brought back a flood of memories, some good, some bad but all of those very engaging.

Global stock markets may have rallied too far too fast over the last five months as they bounce back from a panic plunge provoked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers investment bank a year ago, analysts warn.

Top finance officials from rich and developing countries agreed Saturday to curb hefty bankers' bonuses, but the proposed crackdown on excessive payouts so far falls short of European demands after the US and Britain shied away from imposing a cap.

US fast food giant McDonald's, which has waged an eight-year legal battle with local restaurant McCurry, will Monday petition Malaysia's highest court in its campaign to strip the eatery of the "Mc" prefix.

President Barack Obama's environmental adviser Van Jones, who became embroiled in a controversy over past inflammatory statements, has resigned his White House job after what he calls a "vicious smear campaign against me."

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association sent a legal notice to the authorities concerned yesterday asking for immediate actions against all the ship-breaking activities running without environmental clearance.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday said the government is planning to set up multi-storey parking places in the city's major important areas to avoid illegal car parking leading to reduce traffic jam.

Rehabilitation programme for the poor fishermen in the Halda river areas has been stalled for the last two years in absence of a comprehensive policy guideline on modus operandi of utilising the money sanctioned for it, said District Fisheries Officer Serajuddin yesterday.

A Jubo League leader and his seven aides, who were arrested on August 31 on charges of attacking a party rival, were released on bail from Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Khagrachhari hill town yesterday.

Population would grow to an astounding 242 million in 2078, even if the country achieves the policy goal of two-child family within 2021, according to a research conducted by Dr MA Mabud, professor of the department of Public Health at North South University, recently.

A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail to Dr ABM Mahabubul Islam, dean of Law Faculty of Bangladesh Islami University and Advocate Mohammad Moshiul Alam in a case filed against them for making derogatory remarks about the War of Liberation.

Landowners in Moghbazar and Siddeswari areas, whose lands are to be acquired by the government to implement the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Canal Development Project, yesterday demanded steps to bring changes in the design of the project so that their lands are not acquired.

Bangladesh National Council of Textile Garments and Leather Workers yesterday demanded payment of salaries and bonuses to workers of all industries, including garment factories, by September 15, says a press release.

National

Cases against 104 candidates for the posts of upazila parishad chairman and vice-chairman in different upazilas of Sylhet, Nilphamari, Satkhira and Moulvibazar districts have been filed for not submitting poll expenditure reports to the returning officers concerned in time.

Road communications between six districts of Barisal division and other parts of the country came to a halt as a group of bus owners and workers called an indefinite strike in the city yesterday morning.

A special tribunal here yesterday could not record depositions of prosecution witnesses (PW) in the case for bomb blast that occurred hours before Sheikh Hasina's election rally at Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa maidan on September 26, 2001, as only one out of six accused was produced in the court.

A court yesterday awarded life term imprisonment to five brothers in a murder case. According to the prosecution story, on May 6, 1995, five sons of Azhar Ali --Akram Ali, Shukur Ali, Jalal Uddin, Manir Miah and Barik Miah of village Madhabpur of Mogalgaon union in Sylhet Sadar attacked Anjab Ali at his house following a land dispute. They used sharp weapon's and Anjab died on the spot. Brother of the deceased Arzu Miah filed a case on the following day with Kotwali Police Station. On investigation, police filed charge sheet against the accused. The judge awarded the five life term and fined Tk 30,000 each, in default, to suffer three more years in jail. However, among the convicts, Manir Miah and Barik Miah are still at large.

Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have decided to hold the admission test for first year honours classes under 2009-10 academic session on October 12. RU registrar Prof M A Bari yesterday said the admission test for first year honours classes will continue till October 29, adding that the test will also be held on Fridays. Form distribution and collection will continue till September 15, he said. Meanwhile, the university authorities have increased 110 seats for the first year honours courses this year.

One person was killed and 20 others were injured in a clash at Ataroshi village under Purbadhala upazila yesterday over a disputed land. Police and locals said, Mohoram Ali,45, was killed as supporters of Hakim Uddin and Abdul Latif locked in a fierce clash. Witnesses said, when Hakim Uddin and his men went to the disputed land in the morning for cultivation, Abdul Latif's goons rushed to the spot and attacked them with sharp and lethal weapons. Mohoram Ali died on the spot during the clash. Golam Rabbani, Abdul Motin Sarker, Hasim Uddin Sarker, Rahim Uddin, Abdul Baten and Rafiq were sent to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition.

Police arrested a notorious criminal yesterday morning. Jasimuddin Sarkar, officer in-charge of Tangail Sadar Police Station said a team of Sadar police arrested Montu, 35, chief of 'Montu-Mamun Bahini' from his mother's residence at Purbo Adalat Para in the town. There are at least eight criminal cases including that of murder, extortion and tender snatching pending against Montu with different police stations. He was absconding for long, the OC said. Police yesterday produced him before a court in Tangail after arresting in a murder case filed with Mirzapur Police Station.

At least six houses were gutted in a fire at Korbanpur village in Chandina upazila yesterday morning. The victims said the fire had originated from one Dud Mia's kitchen at about 5:00am and spread to the adjacent shanties. Two fire-fighting vehicles from the upazila station went to the spot and put out the fire at around 5:00am.At least 10 people, including one fire fighter, were injured. Fire officials said the damage caused by fire was estimated at Tk20 lakh. Earlier, another fire gutted four dwelling houses at Kandal village in Nagolkot upazila on Saturday night.

Leaders and activists of Chhatra Moitree at Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday formed a human chain protesting Wednesday's police action on the procession of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports in the capital. The programme was held at the university's Kazla Gate in the morning. Around a hundred leaders and activists of the organisation who joined the human chain condemned attack on Prof Anu Muhammad and other activists of the committee. They also demanded punishment to those responsible for the baton charge.

At least 400 sacks of smuggled fertiliser, 50 kg each, were seized near Hili land port yesterday morning and two people were arrested in this connection. Sources said Rab members from Joypurhat raided godowns at Palpara village near the land port and recovered the fertiliser. They also arrested Badsha Miah and Nabiul Islam, owners of two godowns. Earlier on Friday, BDR of Joypurhat seized 470 sacks of fertiliser.

Letters

Dhaka city's traffic problems are a case-in-point of the prevailing mentality of the government. Attend to the symptoms half-heartedly when the problem becomes unbearable, never ever address the root cause of the problem, always blame the previous government, and talk about expensive projects that do nothing to address short-term problems. When these solutions are finally delivered a decade later, late and over-budget, they won't do anything to solve the problem (e.g., the Mohakhali flyover).

We didn't stop dreaming. Though we knew one day it would be over. One day we would just run after money and glory concealing our dreams like thousands others. One day we would run after job, we would run after positions or we would end up becoming a very ordinary flatterer.

Like people, pigs can get influenza (flu), but swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu doesn't often infect people, and the rare human cases that occurred in the past mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. But the current "swine flu" outbreak is different. It's caused by a new swine flu virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person -- and it's happening among people who haven't had any contact with pigs.

Recently a press report quoting BBC Online stated that a programme has been taken to make the new recruits in Bangladesh police smarter and fit to serve UN peace keeping missions in different parts of the world by providing instructions on beauty matters. One of the country's top beauticians has been given the responsibility of imparting lessons on grooming, personal hygiene, physical fitness, diet and dining etiquette to the newly recruited police officers, both male and female at Sharda Police Academy. A good move!

It is indeed strange what a sneer there is, in the voice of many Bangladeshis, when they say the word 'foreigner' but I am asking myself, “Is it not the Muslim extremists who are the 'foreigners' in Bangladesh?"

It has become a great concern as at least seventy thousand people become victims of snake bite every year, of whom six thousand die every year in Bangladesh. Most of the people die in the rural areas where people barely know how to be protected against snake bite as well as how to treat it. Also the health complexes keep no anti-venom injections.

I would like to ask our honourable prime minister only one question which is bewildering since the AL govt took power in its hands to bring "CHANGE" in the country for the betterment of this poor country. What does this very word change mean? Though the government has made some qualitative changes in many sectors, the change spree is to a great extent anti-democratic, anti-people and unethical. Why does the government need to replace people in high positions with their own people? Every now and then honest and efficient people are asked to resign to make room for the people of the ruling party's choice, who may be less efficient. Did "Obama" government make such changes in the administration? In our country, the politicians are eating up the very core of democracy, "respect people's will". Please stop it.

At first I would like to thank world number one ODI cricket all-rounder Shakib al Hasan for his great performance and also his great achievement. During your captaincy Bangladesh cricket team has gotten its real confidence.

The report that almost 50 per cent of the country's population now live on less than $1.25 a day, the rate of urban households living without access to improved sanitation is about 52 per cent, hardly one per cent of the citizens currently have access to the Internet and it takes over 75 days to register a business in Bangladesh manifests the poor performance of the government.

The month of Ramadan teaches and reminds us of a set of superior things; for instance, persistence, patience, compassion, love, collaboration, sharing the feelings and eliminating our sins and wrongdoings.

Cocooned in comfort and soothing music, she stared enthralled at the stunning vista of the shimmering shopping complex, a welter of lurid white against the sky turning lavender, tinged with mauve in between. Within the immaculate interior, her body rocked back and forth at the buzzing beat of drums fused alongside with pop; suddenly jerking him out of reverie, came a nervous knock on his Mercedes, latest model in vogue and a little murmur, gentle whisper for alms.

Stressing on the need for destroying militant safe havens in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen has said Islamabad is a key ally in the new American strategy to defeat the Taliban.

A German commander in Afghanistan ordered an airstrike that killed scores of civilians last Friday based on intelligence from only one source in possible violation of Nato rules, The Washington Post reported.

A new twist has been introduced into the vexed land border dispute between India and China, with the latter trying to block a 2.9 billion dollar Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan to India on the grounds that part of the loan was destined for water projects in Arunachal Pradesh, the state that includes the disputed area of Tawang.

British and Scottish Members of Parliament are keen to know whether former Prime Minister Tony Blair played a role in a deal between Britain and Libya to secure the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi at a meeting in a London club in 2003, long before either the Scottish government or Gordon Brown was involved.

Arts & Entertainment

The Garos, a large indigenous community from Mymensingh region, are fast losing their age-old tradition and culture for a variety of reasons. The Mymensingh region, once well-known for its ethnic diversity, and harmony among the people of different faiths and cultures has lost its rich legacy over the years. Among the indigenous groups living in this region - Garo, Dhalu, Cooch, Khatriya and Hajong form the majority. The Garos are the leading community in these ranks and have their homes in Haluaghat and Dhubaura, frontier upzilas of Mymensingh and Madhupur of Tangail, each with varied traditions. Currently there are some 40,000 Garos living in the Haluaghat and Dhubaura area but this number is on the wane.

On the occasion of Eid ul Fitr, Agniveena, (a sister concern of G-Series) has released the album "Bappa with the Rockers". The exclusive studio album brought together four of the most talented and popular musicians -- Bappa Majumder, "Bassbaba" Sumon, Fuad al Muqtadir, Arnob -- and winner of the first "D-Rockstar" contest Shuvo. The album promises something for everyone.

Bengali cinema's greatest matinee idol Uttam Kumar's birth anniversary on September 3, 2009 was celebrated befittingly in Kolkata. In a tribute to the actor, the Department of Posts, India released a postage stamp. Honorary Governor Sri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, on the release of the first day cover and the stamp, paid rich tributes to the great actor.

OP-ED

A few days ago, one news item caught my attention. It was reported that workers in the ship-breaking industry receive little or no compensation for injury or death at the workplace. It was reported on a web site that "only a nominal amount of compensation is given and often only when there is public pressure." If this is the state of affairs in this large industry, one can imagine that the situation is not much better in medium and small-scale industries. One can hardly emphasise that this condition needs to change, the sooner the better.

I do not find it an easy task to write on Noman Bhai. He had been a person larger than life. The most fascinating thing about him was that, all his life, he had hidden himself behind such a noble shroud of simplicity that even those who knew him from the closest proximity could hardly scale his stature. He had an inherent hypnotising power -- an amazing force of character, a spellbinding aura.

WHEN the people of Bangladesh were being brutalised, raped, killed, maimed and taking refuge in India, Senator Edward Kennedy came to stand by their side. It was a crucial move by this young 37 years old Massachusetts senator to stand up to the Nixon-Kissinger administration, which was directing a policy to resolutely support Pakistan, the prime perpetrator of the genocide being committed in Bangladesh.